An 1845 map of property in Buffalo owned by Guy H. Goodrich to be sold at auction. Photo: Douglas Levere

A copy of Thomas L. Nichols' "Four Months' Imprisonment for Libel in the Jail of Erie County," published in 1840. Photo: Douglas Levere

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo Libraries have
acquired the Eugene Musial Buffalo Imprint Collection, a unique
piece of Buffalo publishing history that includes the first book
printed in Buffalo in 1812.

The impossible to duplicate collection, purchased by the UB Rare
and Special Books Collection, includes more than 300 titles printed
and published in Buffalo in the 19th century. The works were
acquired throughout the lifetime of historical collector and
bookstore owner Eugene Musial.

The materials will add to the University Libraries’
commitment to research and intellectual development and to promote
and preserve the history of the Western New York region.

“Acquiring the Musial Collection allows the University
Libraries to provide our students and faculty access to
Buffalo’s rich 19th century history,” says Michael
Basinski, director of UB Special Collections.

Highlights from the collection include the first book printed in
Buffalo in 1812, the first directory of the village of Buffalo from
1828, the first Buffalo city directory from 1832, and an assortment
of guide books of Niagara Falls from the 1830s and 1840s. Other
materials include religious hymns, government documents and
maps.

The Eugene Musial Buffalo Imprint Collection will be digitized
and made available online for public viewing. Its acquisition was
made possible through the generosity of William S. Hein & Co.
Inc., the B.H. Breslauer Foundation and individual donors.